please comment on composition

[Neon50]

I wanted the dive toys to be the focal point mainly because of the bright colors. I added the goggles and my daughter to add interest and balance. Did I accomplish this?

Camera Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Exposure 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 75 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution 72 dpi
Y-Resolution 72 dpi
Date and Time (Modified) 2011:06:22 20:31:06
YCbCr Positioning Co-sited
Exposure Program Manual

[JFSanders]

Not really. There are too many competing elements in your composition. Humans always look at faces first and if they are out of focus we tend to stare at them until we can formulate an image of the face before we go on to the other elements of the photograph. Now the good part is that you put the toys in the left side which is generally the first part looked at as long as there are no faces in the picture we would generally stay there. But you didn't give them enough space or in other words they are too small in the scene. There is also a distracting yellow slide behind your daughter which draws the eye away from the subject. The goggles are not colorful enough or in focus which means they will get ignored. The perspective is pretty good and it adds to the photograph. Also, there is a disembodied hand and a flare from something next to your daughter that draws away from the rockets.

In most compositions less is more. Although this is be no means a hard rule and in certain scenes where the mind expects there to be a riot of colors such as a ferris wheel or a balloon flight then the more is better rule applies.

And last but not least. Your point of focus is on the sidewall of the pool. Specifically the tile and as a result the rockets are soft focused.

Jim

[Neon50]

Thank you so much for taking the time to critique my photo. I understand exactly what you mean about competing elements and clutter. I am reading a book on composition but have not read about the viewers eye going to a face first over an object. It makes perfect sense and I will not be doing that again. Thanks again for helping me learn.

[Faith Huddleston]

One of the things that keeps popping up on this site when it comes to composition - what story are you trying to tell in your picture? If it is all about the color of the toys, then maybe a white or blank background would work better, thus making the colors pop out and grab out attention. You might also look at the arrangement of the items themselves. For example: These look like small rockets to me, maybe having them lined up one jst barely behind the other or even laid out in a row or in a diagonal line "head to toe" so to speak.

Faith

[Neon50]

Thanks Faith, for your feedback. Greatly appreciated.